Wrist positioner



June 4, 1957 J. D. RISHER EIAL WRIST POSITIONER Fild Dec. 7, 1955 n MW" mRu 0 x v 2 n g Y r B 4 I II 'lljk mwma an 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII United States Patent WRIST POSITIONER John D. Risher and Ralph S. Martin, North Canton, Ohio Application December 7, 1955, Serial No. 551,639 4 Claims. (Cl. 27354) This invention relates to athletic accessories and more particularly pertains to a device for aiding bowlers.

In the sport of bowling, it is well known and is common practice to impart a spinning motion to the ball in order to obtain a curved path of movement as the ball progresses down the alley to strike the pins. This spinning motion or englis is almost universally used by skilled bowlers since it has been found that having once mastered the art, this technique enables the bowler to most consistently achieve a high score in the game. The so-called english is achieved by a combination of movements imparted to the ball during the swing and at the time the ball leaves the hand. Essentially, it is accomplished by the combination of a twisting motion of the lower arm and a top spin imparted to the ball just as it leaves the bowlers hand. More specifically the top spin is achieved by a follow-through motion of the hand and arm at the precise moment that the bowlers thumb has left the thumb hole of the ball and while the bowlers fingers (middle finger and/ or index finger etc. as the case may be for the particular ball used) are still inserted within their respective ball holes. The follow-through at this instant will impart a considerable forward or top spin to the ball, providing the wrist is held rigid at the same time and is not permitted to bend or break backwardly.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a device to aid a bowler in imparting forward or top spin to a bowling ball by inhibiting bending or breaking backward of the wrist.

It is another object of this invention to provide an accessory of the character set forth in the preceding object which is easily used, comfortable to wear and economical in construction.

A further object of this invention is to provide an accessory for bowlers incorporating a rigid stiffening member bridging the wrist joint and securely anchored to both the hand and the Wrist of the wearer on opposite sides of the wrist joint so as to prevent rearward bending of the wrist while bowling the ball.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bowlers accessory embodying a pliable strip or band adapted to overlie a portion of the back of the users hand and wrist and having means thereon for securely anchoring the same to both the hand and the wrist on opposite sides of the wrist joint, and the device having a rigid stifiening member securely affixed thereto in bridging relation to the wrist joint.

Still another object of this invention resides in a device in conformity with the preceding object in which a layer of cushioning material is disposed on that side of the strap which engages the users hand and wrist portion.

A still further object rests in the provision of a sport accessory as previously described wherein the stiffening member is a light-gauge strip of metal having a raised stifiening bead extending longitudinally therealong.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the ice appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts through the several figures and in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the accessory.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the plane of section line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the plane of section line 3-3 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the device as applied to the users hand.

Referring at this point most particularly to Fig. 1, the device will be seen to consist essentially of a strap or band of flexible material, indicated generally by the reference character 10, and which includes a centrally disposed elongated body portion 11 which is adapted to overlie the back of the users hand and wrist extending on opposite sides of the wrist joint. The band also includes a pair of laterally extending ear portions 12 and 13 lying along one side of the main body portion and disposed at the opposite ends thereof. A second pair of laterally projecting portions 14 and 15 are provided on the opposite side of the main body portion 11 corresponding to the ear portions 12 and 13 respectively. Strap means are provided for securely anchoring the band and holding the same in place, the strap means serving to anchor the band to the users hand and wrist on opposite sides of the wrist joint, as will be seen more clearly in Fig. 4.

The strap means consist of a strap 16, only a portion of which is shown in Fig. 1, which is secured to the outer extremity of the ear portion 12 as by stitching 17 or the like, straps 18 and 19 secured to the outer extremity of the ear portion 13 and preferably stitched as at 20 and 21 similarly to the strap 16, and buckles 22, 23 and 24 one of which, 22, is secured to the ear portion 14 and the other two, 23 and 24, are secured to the ear portion 15.

the main body portion As is shown most clearly in Fig. 4, the strap 16 is adapted to pass across the palm of the users hand for securement directly to the buckle 22, whereas the straps 18 and 19 pass under the wrist of the user and upwardly through the ear portion 15 by virtue of slots or apertures 25 and 26 provided therein for this purpose and then substantially completely around the wrist again at which point they are connected to the buckles 23 and 24.

In the preferred form of our device, an elongate strip of stiffening or rigidifying material 27 is secured to the strap or band 10 on the outer surface thereof remote from the body of the wearer. This strip of rigidifying material may be made of any relatively rigid material, but in the specific embodiment shown in the drawings, the rigidifying strip is constructed of light-gauge metal, preferably aluminum or the like, the strip being disposed in overlying relation to the band 10 in the region of the main body portion thereof. The strip is securely fastened to the main body portion 11 by virtue of fastening elements such as the rivets 28. These rivets, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, extend through the body of strip 27 and the main body portion 11. In the specific embodiment shown the strip 27 is also provided with an upraised stiffening bead or ridge 29, which extends centrally and longitudinally of the strip 27 for substantially the complete length thereof.

In any event, it is preferred that the strip 27 and the stiffening ridge 29 be so related to the band 10 when the same is applied to the users hand and wrist portion, that the strip, as well as the ridge, extends longitudinally of 11 in bridging relation to the joint, particularly at the time; the ball isreleased from the bowlers hand.

To render the device most comfortable to the wearer, it is; preferred that a cushioning'strip, indicatedgenerally. bythereterence character 30, be provided;on the inner. surface ofthe band and extending over substantially the entire region of; the rnainbody portionl]. This cushioning strip preferably consists of; a layer; of resilient mat rial: ,.pr fer h1v nstru ted; of; rubber rrthc l k Provided With. a oth ac ing lay rwhich; isn lirect v. ecuredr c henn r rface o he, main o y Portion 11 as;bY.-adhes ive,-means,

, Fig- 3 illustrate he pr f rr d manner; o ecu ng. th buckles 22, 23 and 24 in place. This construction envisageszthe useof-anex cnsioni33; f the ea p r ion. 1 fonexampl which is lo ped ab u z het ross ar-3.4105 the; buckle-22 andisfi mly ec red-lathe earn rtion as y. e. rivet member 35., the. x ension.- being; 0t; course provide qwi h anlapert re 1610, ccommo ate movemen fthe tongue 37 Qfth uc le; Allo th vat nssbnclde may besecured to the respective ear portions in this manner.

With the construction above described, the device when applied, as shown in Eig.; 4 will very efiectively maintain; the users-wn'st in rigid position, so-thatthe hand and Wri t re substanti lly. in alignment o hat'if theproper technique of bowling is performed, a proper top, spin will be, efiectively imparted to, the bowling all.

What is. claimed is:

1 An accessory device for bowlers to inhibit rearward flexing of the wrist while bowling, comprising an, elon: alestlip of rigid material adapted to. bridge the. Wrist jointand extend over, portions of the, hand and, Wrist port-ionontopposite sides of, the wrist joint, and means for; securely anchoring said strip to back the handanid the wrist portion of the user in rigid bridging relation to th e,w r ist joint, said strip having a longitudinally ex: tendingbead, to prevent flexing thereof and preclude back: ward;bending of; thehandat the wrist joint as a ball is released while bowling.

2.,An accessory device for bowlers to maintain the wrist; in; substantially rigid condition while bowling,,com1

prising an elongated body of flexible material adapted to overlie the back of a users hand and wrist portion and extending a substantial distance above and below the Wrist joint, said body being of a width to cover only the back and adjacent side portions of the users hand while leaving the fingers and palm free and unobstructed, an elongate section of rigid material secured to said band for overlying regions of the users hand and arm above and below the wrist joint, alayer of cushioning material aflixed to the inner surface of said body and section for cushioning the users hand; andwristportion, and-means for securing said deviceto the users hand and, wristportion in bridging relation to the Wrist joint, said means including a relatively wide strap means connected to one end of said device for securely encircling a substantial portion of the users wrist portion above the wrist joint to securely fasten said device on the wrist portion in substantially rigid relation, and; a. singlestrip connected to the other end of said device for encircling a portion of the hand to retain the device'flat againstthe back of the hand, said single strip being relatively narrow to leave the palm and fingers of the users, handfree for gripping a bowling ball but securing said; device to the hand to prevent backward flexing of the hand at the wrist joint when the ball is released, while bowling.

3. An accessory device as definedin claim-2 wherein said section of rigid material compriseslight-gauge metal having an upraised stiffening bead extending longitudinally thereof.

4. An accessory device as defined in claim 3 wherein said strip comprises a strap and buckle assembly for en circling the users hand in the region thereof just below the knuckles and presenting the terminus of said band leaving the hand free and unobstructed therebeyond, said strapvand buckle assembly being of narrow width and presenting the only portion of the accessory overlying the users palm.

References Cited in;the file of this patent 

